The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-04
THE SWEEP Frs.


HOW 1T WILL BE.
The evening was clear and cold, the stars
smiled down upon earth SO fondly that when
| looked from my window late In tho night |
lonped to 20 out under them, and let their
benign spell charm away the fret and fever
of the day. went out and walked slowly
on and on, feeling the restfu influence Of the
silence and the beauty of the night A cres-
cent moon glttered in the sky, the myriads
of stars blazed in unwonted glory, and the
earth slept under white blanket of snow.
AS walked farther and farther in the cold,
white silence, the everyday world, with its
worry and vcxation, fell away from me.
The people of the village slept. Their
houses were locked and lightless; the earth
itself slept. only seemed to be awake. But
no; another was abroad as well as myself.
Not meditative soul, evidently, for he came
toward me whistling and singing CHEEKY
songs. He had no vexations to be charmed
away in the silence Of the night, that was
certain There was a confident ring in his
Atep as be ground his heel into the hard beaten
show of the highway, and there was assertion
in the notes he whistled and sang.
AS he came in sight saw that he was an
exceedingly spruce youth, with finely de-
veloped figure, and, as near as could SEQ III
tho white light of the stars and the snow,
beaming face. He was clad in velvet and
fur, dressed with foppish care and nicely,
and he carried brand new broom.
"Good evening"" said, as we were about
to pass each other on the narrow road.
"Eveningr he said, interrogatively. IL
never knew any such thing. belong to the
morning"
alas the boy been drinking" thought |. A
second look convinced me that he had not.
He stuck the handle of his broom firmly into
the snow rs he stopped and spoke. | made
ND my mind that he was youth trimming
over with life and health and superfluous
energy. That he was vain any one could see
from his walk, his speech and manner. l
wanted to prolong the conversation, and for
want of a better subject l mentioned the
beauty and newness of the broom.
That pleased him. He smiled approvingly,
shook the broom triumphantly and said:
ayes, it's a splendid broom, and it's well that
It is, for have big contract of sweeping ON
hand, and am just on my way to begin"
"Youl" / look at him incredulously. Was
the boy merry iunaticl Going to do a job Of
sweeping, clad in velvet and furl "Have you
ever swept any in your lifer l asked.
"No; but have studied sweeping, studied
it in books"
"Ah and what are you going to sweep,
may ask"
"Why I'm going to sweep the earth," no
said confidently, as he flourished the broom
above his head, and then scratched around
with it moment in the snow, merely to
snow nis expertness as - sweeper.
Whats large contract for a theoretical
sweeper" | answered; 81 am curious to know
something about you"
"Don't recognize me, chs Well, how could
you, since / am not yet bornP And he
laughed aloud.
By this time / was convinced that had
met jolly and extremely original lunatic.
As he seemed harmless as well rs mirthful, /
didn't mind hearing him talk little. "What
particular style Of dirt do you intend TO
sweep Off the earthi" asked.
Everything offensive and harmful" he re-
piled, in most positive voice. "All corrup-
ton. oppression, dishonesty in high places,
and degradation in all places. Yes, and dis
ease; that, too, must 20. And poverty also.
Everything that is hateful and makes the
heart bitter shall be swept away"
He seemed so serious and earnest about IL
that | pitied him for his delusion. allow
long will it take you to finish such con-
tractl" | asked, feeling great compassion
for his disordered mind with its humanitarian
instincts.